“Historiography of the instant”: this is how Umberto Eco described journalism. And if the definition applies to journalists in general, it fits perfectly with that peculiar genie that are agency reporters. Those who work in a newspaper generally have at least a few hours to reflect on what they produce (not always: it happens to have to redo articles and entire pages from top to bottom after 10pm or 11pm …) but for those who operates in a news agency precisely the instant is the exclusive time horizon. Let’s take the example of a press conference: the journalists of newspapers and magazines follow the event continuously, while those of the agency do a syncopated job, because they have to assiduously inform the head office on what the interviewee is saying. ; maybe there is a statement to be highlighted in real time on which headlines will be made the next day, and agency reporters must hurry to feed every piece of news into the information circuit, which engulfs and metabolizes their work. In reality, since Internet journalism has taken up space, all the others sent to cover an event are also asked to write short articles online anticipating what will be published the next day; but the difference between the two professions is still visible.
The difference can also be seen in another aspect: in the end, the newspaper and periodical journalist can have the satisfaction of signing the piece, while the agency one never has the opportunity, because it produces only short flashes, naked and raw news. which will act as raw material for the articles published by others in the next day’s newspapers. The professional condition of the agency reporter is well described by Ligabue’s song: he has “a life as a midfielder”, whose job is to pass the ball (ie the news) “to whoever finalizes the game”. Sometimes, towards the end of the day, even the agency journalist happens to sign a slightly longer and more elaborate launch, a summary article of an event; but his signature will be seen only by the editors of the newspapers subscribing to the agency, not by the final readers.
Ansa, breaking latest news, beraking latest news, and internationally Reuters, Associated Press etc. … these names are quite well known to the public, but what exactly do they correspond to? News agencies are news organizations that do not publish newspapers but provide basic information to a large number of publications subscribing to each of them. Why is this network created? Let’s go back to the example of the press conference: what need is there for an agency journalist if the newspapers have already sent their reporters to the same conference? The fact is that the forces of the newspapers are limited and every single newspaper cannot send its reporters to cover every single event, from a comfortable press conference in Milan or Rome to a remote violent demonstration (say) in Argentina or India, while the agencies have a capillary network that covers all of Italy, indeed the whole world (for example, the Italian Ansa is also in Argentina and India) and thus they integrate every need.
In addition to quantity, agencies stand out for the quality of their work: you want to say that objectivity is an impossible ideal to achieve, in the work of agencies honesty and impartiality are practical, indispensable necessities, because the same news should be turned to the right-wing and left-wing newspapers, to the paper closest to the interests of entrepreneurs or to the sensitivity of workers, to Milan fans and Inter fans, to guarantors and forcaioli, etc. (then it will be up to the recipients, and only to them, interpret the information as they believe). Therefore the press agencies are forges of journalists who know the trade, finders of news and in some cases true professionals of the scoop; few know that Indro Montanelli also worked in the agency, before becoming the prince of envoys.
And those who do not know would learn it by reading the book “It’s the beauty agency! History, theory and techniques of agency journalism “, written by Stefano Polli and Cesare Protetti (Istimedia Edizioni, 414 pages, 20 euros). Obviously the title refers to the exclamation “It’s the press, baby!” by Humphrey Bogart in a film in which he is a journalist. In fact, the volume also talks about much more: it takes stock of the digital revolution that is changing not only journalism in general but also that of the agency in particular. Which in itself has a “plus”: being freed from paper right from the start, he was less traumatized by the transition to immateriality; and even if the paper newspapers disappeared completely, as has been predicted several times, the news agencies would continue to have their own raison d’etre, as providers of impartial and professionally treated news, in a world in which they spread fake news. Provided that impartiality and professionalism are still appreciated.